The evening was already in full swing when Cass and Griff arrived. Griff would have rented a ballroom at the hotel if she had agreed. She’d insisted on a less ostentatious room and a small band for dancing.

And people were dancing. The entire Outlaw bunch had turned out, and Sam was twirling Gloria around the floor, while J.J. partnered Min. What a difference a year made, Cass thought as they made their way through the crowd.

Mom and Aunt Min had decided not to rebuild Chili Witches. They’d been very philosophical about the fire and the loss of their business. Perhaps it was God’s way of ending that phase of their lives. They’d insisted the twins should follow their own dreams, not tie themselves to the café as they had. Sunny had seemed relieved by the decision, and to tell the truth, Cass was, too. They’d sold the property—not to ZASM, but to someone else.

Maybe the thieves had done them a favor. Using tapes from a surveillance camera on a nearby building, the police had caught the culprits a week after Chili Witches was destroyed. The pair, a busboy and a floor installer, had entered through Hooks, using the alarm code the busboy had stolen from his bosses. They’d sawed a hole between the men’s room in Hooks and the office in Chili Witches, determined to crack the big safe the floor installer had seen there. They’d only succeeded in setting the office afire before they fled. The camera had caught them both full face, as well as their getaway car.

Cass greeted several members of POAC as they neared the podium, as well as old friends from high school and college, and new friends she’d met more recently. Sunny was there with Ben, of course, her tummy just beginning to show a little pooch.

Griff, grinning like a possum, stepped up to the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please.” The band played an ending, and the crowd turned to the raised stage. “For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Griffin Mitchell, campaign manager for our esteemed candidate. The polls have closed. The votes have been counted, and our new city councilwoman—elected without a runoff—is Cassidy Outlaw Mitchell!”

The band struck up a lively song and everybody applauded wildly as balloons—again, Griff’s idea—fell from the ceiling. Griff whirled her around the dance floor, and Cass laughed from the pure joy of the moment and the love of her husband, family and friends. Her mother and Aunt Min had eventually fallen in love with Griff, especially after he took over the franchising of Chili Witches and made them loads of money.

Cass danced with every Outlaw there, including Wes. She even made a round of the floor with Ben, who was an excellent dancer, and Greg Gonzales, who was no slouch, either.

As they toasted with champagne, Griff held her close to his side. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

She grinned up at him. “Not in the past half hour or so.”

“Well, I do. The day you tripped over me on the jogging trail was the luckiest day of my life. I love you, Cass. Heart and soul.”